Gearing.



V. G. APPLE.

` GEAMNG. APPLICATION FILED MAR.4, 1912. v 1,079,090. Patented NOV.18,1913.

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V. G. APPLE.

GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED MARA. 1912.

1,079,090, Patented-Nov-18, 1913.

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Wihmesesz a MM UNITED sTaTEsl PATENT oEEIoE.

VINCENT G. APPLE,

OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE APPLE ELECTRIC COMPANY, l 0F DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION Ol' OHIO.

GEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINCENT G. APPLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gearing, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to im rovements in gearing especially adapted or power installations for motor vehicles and the like and' has particulanreference to the interrelation-of an internal combustion engine and a dynamo which acts as an electric motor to drive the engine in starting the latter, and as a generator driven by the engine when the latter is in self-impelled operation.

In the drawings wherein I have shown an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a ,horizontal section through the crank case of the gas engine and the electric power unit; Fig. 2 is a side elevation (from the right of Fig. 1) of one end of the starting appliance with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a vertical section online 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the system; Figs. 5 and 6 are details of a connection joint; and Fig. 7 is a-detail of a clutch.

The dynamo is preferably arranged in a horizontal position, associated with the engine crank case, said dynamo having automatic power connections with the engine crank shaft in order to receive power from said shaft in order that the dynamo may be driven rapidly as a generator when the engine is in self-impelled operation and having also means for manual operation through a reducing gear to connect the dynamo to the engine shaft so that the dynamo, operating as a motor, may drive the engine at slow speed for starting, the arrangement being preferably such that the last said connection is automatically broken as the engine speeds up in its self-impelled operation. In the drawings, (referrin particularly to Fig. 4 for diagrammatic in ication-of the system) 10 indicates the gas engine, such as the engine in an automobile, and 11 an electric dynamo associated with the storage batteries 12 througha suitable switch so that the dynamo, running: as a generator, may charge the batteries "(preferably connected in parallel) or, operated as a motor, may receive current therefrom (preferably connected in series). The present invention provides an economical and simple construction whereby said dynamo 11, through the operation of an automatic clutch may be driven from the engine shaft as a generator when the engine is self-impelled, or, throu h mechanical connection manually effected y the operation of a treadle lever, may serve as a driving motor to operate the engine crank shaft as in starting the engine.

In the construction specifically shown the engine shaftv 13 carries at one-end a iy wheel 14 provided with a gear: 15 upon its periphery and upon the opposite end of the crank shaft is a pinion 16 meshing with the gear 17 upon the cam shaft 18. This is a common form of construction but, so far as the present invention is concerned, it typifies merely two power transmission gears upon the crank shaft. In conformity with usual constructionit is preferable that the structure thus far described be inclosed in a housing or casing 19, having side openings opposite the gears 15 and 17 to admit 1n engagement therewith the appropriate elements of the dynamo gearing.

Dynamo 11 and its gearing members are preferably housed in a casing structure 20.

which may be conveniently made in three separable sections, a central section 21 inclosing the. dynamo proper; areductiongear-containing head 22 having a side opening alining Vwith the fly wheel opening of casing 19, and a clutch-containing-head-'23 having a side opening alining, with the ca-mshaft-gear opening in the crank casing 19. These casing parts are connected together and are secured to crank case* 19 in suitable fashion, which of course may vary 1n spe-` Civ.

extension shaft 26 rotates in the same direction asthe engine crank shaft 13. The automatic clutch 25 is preferably of the rolling wedge type for operation in one direction only, there being provided, in the specific embodiment shown, a disk 25 upon the shaft 26, said disk having peripheral tapering pockets 25b containing rolling wedge members, as balls 25", working in proximity to the-inner face of a cup member 25l mounted upon the dynamo shaft 24, the arrangement of the parts being such that when the shaft 26 tends to rotate faster than the shaft 24 the clutch will operate to connect the two shafts, while when shaft 24 tends to turn more rapidly than the shaft 26 the clutch will be released. As a matter of convenience in construction shaft 26 may be provided with a' single bearing within the casing close to the ear wheel 27, the bearing, shown at-28, eing av ball bearing in which the. outer ball race is parti-spherical so that the shaft 26 may be self alining with the shaft 24.

It .will be obvious that when the engine is running at hio'h speed under its own power the shaft 26 w11l be driven at high speed and will therefore be connected through the clutch 25 to operate the dynamo, which under such'circumstances will act as a generator.

Within the reduction geai` head 22 I provide a reduction gear driven from the dynamo shaft and having a shiftable element capable of connection with or disconnection fromfly wheel gear 15. In the specific construction shown the reduction gear, generally indicated as 30, comprises a shaft 31 bearing a pinion 32 meshing with the large gear 33 mounted upon a shaft 34 in common with a pinion 35 adapted to mesh with fly wheel gear 15, the shaft 34 being mounted for rocking movement coaXially with the shaft 31 so that the pinion 35 may be thrown into or out of mesh with the fly wheel gear 15, gear wheel 32 taking a planetary motion with respect 'to connecting pinion 32. To this end shaft 34 is mounted in a rocker frame 36, comprising arms 37 and 38. The arm 37 finds bearin in a boss 39 upon the end lmember of head 22, said arm 37 being internallyv fitted with a ball bearing 4() for the shaft 31. The other arm 38 has a ball bearing 41 upon the shaft 31, and the inner end of sai shaft has connection through a joint 42, with the dynamo shaft 24. This joint 42 I prefer shall be of such nature as to permit of slight universal motion for self alinement of shaft 31 with shaft 24, the specific construction shown comprising two heads 43 and 44 upon the two shafts 31 and 24, each of these heads having projecting therefrom toward the opposite head a series of pins as shown in 45 and 46, said pins being placed in staggered relation and engaging in appropriate holes in a leather disk 47 which forms a connection slightly yielding universally.

Operating means mechanically controllable by an operator are provided for rocking the rocker frame 36 into osition to throw the gear 35 into mesh witli ily wheel gear 15. Thus arm 38 may be provided with a lug 49 engaged by a link 50 extending through the top wall of the casing head 22, and engaged by an elevating lever 51 which may conveniently take the form of a foot pedal when the deviceis ap lied to an automobile. As the free end o the lever 51 is depressed link 50 is raised, rocking the carrying frame 36 so the pinion 35 is engaged with the gear 15.

The construction preferably is such that when the gear 15 takes on a rapid rotation,- as when the engine picks up ,-t-he pinion 35 is automatically thrown out of engagement therewith, and as one available means to this end I show the gear teeth of the gear 15 and pinion 35 as out with proper gear faces on one side and cam faces on the opposite side, so that while the pinion 35 may readily drive gear 15 acceleration of gear 15 will cause the cam surfaces of the gear teeth toV throw, the pinion 35 out of engagement therewith, such movement being augmented by action of a spring 52 interposed between the top of the casing member 22 and an abutment 53 on link 50 and tending normally to hold the rocking frame in such position as to disengage the pinion 35 from gear 15.

It is preferableJ with the equipment above described that the storage batteries 12 provided in connection with the dynamo to drive the same as a motor shall be' connected in series when driving the dynamo as a motor and connected parallel when receiving current from the dynamo acting as a generator. In order that the appropriate change in the circuit of the batteries in respect ,to the dynamo may be automatically effected I provide upon the rocking frame 36 two sets of movable switch contacts 56 and 57 coperating with the set of contacts 55 fixed upon the casing 22. As indicated in Fig. 4 the stationary contacts 55 may be respectively connected to the battery terminals and to the dynamo terminals while the movable contacts of the respective sets are so interconnected that set 57 (which coperates with the stationary contacts 55 when the engine is being started) connects the batteries 12 in series in the dynamo circuit, while the set 56 (normally standing engaged with the stationary contacts 55) connects the batteries in parallel in such dynamo circuit. Manifestly the batteries may be used for any ordinary purposes of lighting or ignition service in connection with the automobile, but such connuances nections form no part of my present invention. t

The operation of the deviceabove described is as follows: Assumin the engine to be at rest, it may be started y operating the dynamo as a. motor and connecting the dynamo shaft with the engine shaft through the reduction gear. To this end the lever 5l is depressed, rocking the frame 36 to throw the pinion 35 into engagement with the iy wheel gear 1-5, such operation also throwing movable contact set 57 into connection with stationary contact set 55. Thus the dynamo receives current from the storage batteries l2 connected in series therewith and, running as a motor, drives the reduction gear which is in positive connection with the iy wheel until the engine picks up and begins its self-impelled operation. As soon as this action occurs in the engine the speed of the gear 15 is of cou-rse ncreased far beyond that at which the pinion 35 of the reduction gear tends to drive it and consequently the cam surfaces of the fly wheel gear teeth automatically throw the pinion 35 out of engagement therewith, whereupon the operato-r releases the lever 51 so that the spring 52 may oscillate the rock- .ing frame 36 back to normal position throwing the movable contact set 56 into connection with the stationary contacts 55 and connecting the batteries in parallel with the generator.

Under the conditions first described where the dynamo is working as a motor the clutch 25 is idle, as the dynamo shaft tends to run at greater speed than extension shaft 26, but when the engine picks up the shaft 26 is driven rapidly in rotation through the gearing connections to the engine shaft and thereupon the clutch 25 acts to communicate driving pow-er from the shaft 26 to the dynamo shaft 24, thereby to drive the dynamo as a generator.

While I have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of my invention, well adapted for the purpose of equipping automobi es of a now common type, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that 'many changes in details of construction might be made without departure from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1.- The combination of a dynamo casing providing bearin for the oppositely extending shaft en s of a dynamo, an engine shaft, a dynamo shaft, manually o rable means to connect said engine sha with one end of the dynamov shaft, and automatically operable means to connect said engine kshaft with the other end of the dynamo shaft.

2. The combination of a dynamo casing providing Ajournal.'bearings at its ends for the. oppositely extending ends of a .dynamo shaft, an engine shaft, a dynamo shaft, re-

duction gear means adapted for connecting one end of said dynamo. shaft to the engine shaft to. drive the engine shaft from the dynamo shaft, caring ada ted to connect the engine shaff to the ot er end of the dynamo. shaft to drive the latter, mechanical means to effect said reduction gear connection, 'and automatic means to release the reduction gear connections with the engi-ne picks up and effect the other connections between the engine `shaft and the dynamo Shaft. .j

3. The combination, with a dynamo shaft, and an engine shaft, of reduction gear means manual-ly controllable for effect-ing connections between one end of the dynamo shaft and the engine shaft, an extension shaft for the dynamo, gearing connections between said extension shaft and the engine shaft, and automatic clutch means for connecting said extension shaft and the dynamo shaft.

4. The combination, with a dynamo shaft and an engine shaft, of reduction caring means manually'co-ntrollable for e ectin driving connection between said shafts, an other connections between said shafts including automatic clutch means operable upon rota-tion of the engine shaft above the speed at which it may be driven by the dynamo shaft through said reduction gearing means, to connect said dynamo shaft in driven relation to. the engine shaft.

5. The combination, with a dynamo shaft, and an engine shaft, of automatic speedresponsi've means to connect the d namo shaft to be driven by the engine sha t, and means to connect said dynamo shaft to drive the engine shaft, including a manually shiftable member, and a controlling means `operable by said member.

6. The combination with engine shaft, and a dynamo shaft, manually operable means to connect said' dynamo shaft to drive the engine shaft at reduced speed, an extension shaft for connection with the dynamo shaft, lgearing connections between said engine s aft. and saidv extension shaft constantly to drive said extension shaft from said engine shaft and automatic means for effecting connection between said extension shaft and said dynamo shaft when the speed of rotation of the extension shaft begins to exceed that of the dynamo shaft.A

7. The combination of an engine shaft, a dynamo shaft, a reduction gearing adapted to make driving connection from the dynamo shaft to the engine shaft, manu-ally operable means for etfectuating such connec- `tion, when the speed of rotation of the dynamo shaft is suitably in excess of that of the engine shaft, and means automatically to disable such connection when the en ine shaft speeds up beyond the rate at whic it may be driven by the dynamo through such reduction gear.

8. The combination with an engine shaft having cranks, and two gears upon said shaft oppositely beyond the cranks, namo shaft connectible at opposite ends to said gears on the engine shaft, connecting means at one end of the dynamo shaft including a reduction gearing manually connectible to one said engine shaft gear to drive the engine shaft at low speed and automatically disconnectible when the engine shaft attains giredetermined speed, and connecting means or the op osite end o'f the said dynamo shaft to be diiven from the other gear on the engine shaft when the engine shaft is running at a relatively rapid rate.

9. The combination of an engine shaft having cranks and two gears, a crank case therefor, a dynamo housing secured to said crank case, providing a central dynamo containing portion and separable head portions therebeyond, a reduction gearin within one said head portion for effecting riving connection from the dynamo shaft to one engine shaft gear, and automatic clutch means within the other head portion automatically to eifect driving connection from the other engine gear to the dynamo shaft whereb the engine shaft may-drive the dynamo sha j when the engine is in self impelled operation,

10. The combination with an engine crank shaft, and a crank case, of a dynamo casing mounted on said crank case and having openings for communication therewith 'at separated points, ear wheels on said crank shaft adjacent said oints of communication between the casmgs, a dynamo shaft journaled in the dynamo casing, a reduction gearing manually operable to effect connection between the dynamo shaft and one crank shaft gear through one said opening for communication between the casings, and gearing connection between said dynamo shaft and the other crank shaft gear through the other opening for communication between the'casings, the last said means of connection including an automatic speedresponsive clutch.

11. The combination with an engine crank shaft, a cam shaft, gearing connections between said crank shaft and said cam shaft, and a ily wheel on the crank shaft provided with a gear, of a dynamo shaft, a reduction gear associated with such shaft, manually operable to effect driving connection from the dynamo shaft to the fly wheel geai` of the engine, and another 'means for connectj ing the engine shaft in driving relation toy the dynamo shaft, said means comprising a gearing connection with the cam shaft gear and an automatic speed responsive-clutch.

12. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a motor-generator, a

shaft and an extension shaft therein, a reduction gearing within one end of said casing, and an automatic speed responsive clutch between the extension shaft and the generator shaft.

13. A device of the character described comprising a casing for a dynamo, a reduction gearing within Said casing, comprising a shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a rockin frame rotatable relative to said shaft, an reduction gearing members carried by said rocking frameand adapted to receive power from said shaft gear and to apply ower from a pinion carried by said rocking rame.

14. A device of the character described comprising a casing for a motor generator and a reduction gearing comprising a driving pinion within said casing and a reduction gearing in the casing comprising a shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a rockin frame rotatable relative to said shaft, and reduction gearing members carried by said rocking frame adapted to receive power from said shaft gear to communicate ower from a pinion carried by said rocking rame.

15. A device of the character described comprising a casing for a dynamo, a reduction gearing `in the casing comprising a shaft, a pinion on said shaft, a rocking frame rotating relative to said shaft, and reduction gear members carried by said rocking frame adapted to receive power from said shaft gear to communicate power from a pinion carried by said rocking frame.

16. A device of the character described comprising a casing for a dynamo, a reduction gearing including a driving pinion, a rocking frame carrying said driving pinion, said driving pinion having teeth shaped on one side to present appropriate driving surfaces, and on the other side to present nondriving cam surfaces.

17. A device of the character described comprising a casing, divided into three longitudinal separate parts, the central whereof is adapted to receive a dynamo having projecting shaft ends, a reduction gearing contained within one end part of said casing, means to connect the reduction gear shaft to the projecting end of the dynamo shaft, an extension shaft within the opposite end part of the casing, a gear on said extension shaft, and automatic speed responsive clutch means for connecting said extension shaft with the opposite projecting end of the dynamo shaft.

18. A device of the character described lcomprisinga casing, divided into three longitudinal separate parts, the central whereof is adapted to receive a dynamo having projecting shaft ends, a reduction gearing contained within o ne end part of said casing, a universal jolnt to connect the reduction gear shaft to the projecting end of the dynamo shaft, an extension shaft Wi'ahin 'Ene E testimony whereof hereunto set my opposlte end part of the easlng, a gear on hand 1n the presence of Wo wltnesses.

said extension shaft, and rolling Wedge 5 VINCENT G. APPLE. clutch means for connecting said extension n the presence of- 5 shaft with the opposite projecting enol @fg E. M. EARNHART,

the dynamo shaft. N. E. SNYDER. 

